KNDS France stated in a company release that, from last Wednesday through the previous week, nearly 25 EBRC Jaguar wheeled armored vehicles had been delivered to or upgraded for the French Army under the R3 standard. This milestone, confirmed by the Ministry of Defense on September 18, marks another step forward for the SCORPION program to modernize the French Army. The program includes, in addition to replacing the wheeled armored vehicles AMX-10RC and ERC-90 Sagaie with the Jaguar, also the replacement of the armored personnel carrier VAB with the VBMR Griffon and the modernization of the Leclerc main battle tank to the XLR version.
With the R3 standard, which was certified ready for operation by the French procurement authority DGA on April 8 and approved by the Army for operational use on July 20, the Jaguar, according to KNDS, reaches its full planned capability. Sensors and effectors of a new generation, together with the ability to reallocate the anti-tank guided missile Akeron MP in flight to new targets, represented a technological breakthrough in meeting the current needs of the armed forces. Moreover, the human–machine interface has further evolved toward greater integration and digitization.
KNDS Sees International Development Prospects for the Jaguar
Thus, it is possible to integrate and display the information from the sensors, the fire-control system, and other vehicle systems more intuitively, which helps the crew to make faster decisions. Deliveries and retrofits would continue for the rest of 2026. By the end of 2027, all Jaguars delivered with the R2 standard should be upgraded to the R3. After the vehicle had already been chosen for procurement by Belgium and Luxembourg, several export campaigns were also underway, opening new international development perspectives.
The EBRC (Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat) Jaguar is a 25-ton, 6×6 vehicle with a three-person crew. Protection according to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4 against 14.5 mm armor-piercing ammunition from 200 meters can be reinforced with modular add-on armor. The two-person turret houses a 40 mm CTAS cannon with 180 rounds of telescoped ammunition, a remote-controlled weapon station T3 Hornet S with a 7.62 mm machine gun and 400 rounds, four Akeron missiles, and a Galix smoke grenade launch system with 14 80 mm launch tubes.
Additionally, among other features, is the fully digital optically stabilized panoramic sight and fire-control system PASEO with a cooled thermal imaging unit SATIS GS, automatic target tracking and Hunter-Killer function for the commander and gunner, the optronic and laser warning system Antares, the fire warning system PILAR V, the software-defined jamming system ECLIPSE, and the active protection system DIAMANT with four radar sensors. A militarized Volvo D11 six-cylinder turbo diesel engine delivering 500 hp and an automatic ZF seven-speed transmission propels the vehicle to a top road speed of 90 km/h and an 800-kilometer range.
